Friday, June 29, 2007

For an exhibit of chef portraits, I painted a chef's jacket to wear to the opening. Bragard, top French chef jacket makers, contacted me. They asked me to paint a 'portrait' jacket for Paul Bocuse to wear to the Chicago Food show. I wrote M. Bocuse requesting reference photos. I received an invitation to hisMeilleur Ouvriers De France celebration luncheon in Lyon.Mon dieu! The M.O.F. is the highest award in France for a craftsman.

No way I could miss this soiree.

Off I went with Bocuse's painted jacket, a portrait painting portrait, and four jackets to wear at the luncheon. I had nothing sufficiently elegant to wear so I changed my painted chef jackets 4X in the loo instead.M.Bocuse is a clever man. Every guest got their own M.O.F. 'ribbon' napkin ring. By the end of the luncheon every guest was wearing the MOF on their wrist, singing French songs and waving their arms in the air. Too funny.

The menu was superb bien sur. No one in the world gives a party the way the French do.

Bocuse was instrumental in my new career with Mumm Champagne. He was their USA spokesperson, though he speaks not one word of English. But his charm is contagious.

Mumm asked me to develope a promotional portrait program for them. I painted stacks of Mumm labels they attached to bottles as gift to their restranteurs.

After two days of partying in Lyon, I had to go back to Paris. Bocuse, ever the gracious host, asked his secretary to make me a reservation on the TGV. But I arrived late and jumped on the train sans billet/ticket.When the conductor came by, I explained I'd been caught in traffic, but Chef Bocuse made the reservation. He paused, thought a moment and then said OK and walked on.Only in France can you drop the name of a great chef and get a free ride from Lyon-Paris on the TGV!Bonne 13th Anniversaire of your M.O.F. award, Paul Bocuseet grand merci!

29 comments:

ooooooooooooooo!! Can I rub shoulders with you!What a fantiastsic story. Wonderfully illustrated with your paintings, images and words. Wow. I keep saying Wow! I hope he reads this and flys you back over to paint the town red!

OUI! A fun story..I have been lucky in work,if not in ----.At the party, a tall, dark, thin man came over and said he'd like to order a painted jacket..I asked for his business card. He said he had none.He wrote his name in my notebook -George Duboeuf!

Marie-Noëlle I didn't know you were from Lyon? You must make a mean Pommes Lyonnaise!

Carol,I think everyone needs some luck, even the best and the brightes, and you sure earned yours.Holly Beaujolais, that story about George Duboeuf confirms my experience, that people who truly earned their good name are among the nicest and most unpretensious human beings (and the best friends, too).Will have to talk to my landlady re writing on her walls, though. I do have white slipcovers on the sofas, they are great cotton canvas and all mine. *giggle*

Oh my Carol! What a Fantastic tale! I love the jackets, and all the labels etc! You look stunningly 'almost French' at the dinner! I don't need to transform you into a 'artistic creation - you already ARE one!!!Hugs!